The Scarred CEO's Secret Heirs

Aviah Lynch's POV

I opened my eyes in a drunken haze, my head splitting with pain. Tomorrow—no, actually today—was my wedding day. I was going to marry August Westerfield, the man I'd loved deeply for years.

I tried to reach for the water on the nightstand, but my body felt heavy as lead. I couldn't even lift a finger.

Something was wrong.

I struggled to sit up, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the TV screen hanging on the wall. What I saw made me freeze instantly.

"Scarlett, I finally have you." On the screen, August knelt before a woman, carefully removing her shoes and socks, caressing her feet as if they were the most precious treasure in the world. "I've loved you since we were kids. Fifteen whole years, and you're finally willing to be mine."

I couldn't believe my eyes.

That woman was Scarlett Chambers—the widow of August's brother, Kevin Westerfield, and also my cousin, my uncle's daughter.

August was in love with his sister-in-law? For fifteen years?

Then what was I?

On the screen, Scarlett laughed softly as she switched feet. "If you really love me, why are you marrying Aviah?"

"Baby, you're the only one I love," August said urgently, gripping her foot. "I'm only marrying her to use her womb to have a child. Since you don't want to give birth, let that bitch Aviah do it. These past few years, pretending in front of her every day has been driving me crazy. I feel sick just looking at her. If it wasn't for her family's money, I wouldn't spend a single second with her."

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

"She acts so pure, won't let me touch her," August continued mockingly. "But who knows? Maybe she's already been fooling around with other men outside."

Scarlett looked provocatively at the camera—no, she was looking at me. Her gaze locked precisely onto me in the bed, her lips moving slightly. "How pathetic."

She knew! She knew I could see them through the TV screen!

"So you two grew up together, and you've never slept with her?" Scarlett asked sweetly.

"I swear to God, absolutely not. From beginning to end, I've only loved you."

Scarlett pouted. "But I saw you laughing so happily with her. Men's words are so unreliable."

"If you don't believe me, I'll cancel the wedding tomorrow!"

"Don't be silly," Scarlett laughed. "Your family and the Lynch family have such a good relationship. If you cancel the wedding, the Lynch family won't let the Westerfield family off."

August's voice became fervent. "Do you know how jealous I was when you married Kevin? My family forced me to get close to Aviah, and I spent every day feeling disgusted! Thank God Kevin died, now you can be mine."

A strange expression flashed across Scarlett's face before quickly recovering. "August, you can marry Aviah, but if you touch her, I won't let you touch me. After Kevin died, I swore never to have children again. The child thing—you figure it out yourself."

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything," August said smugly. "I drugged her and arranged for a man to rape her. She's unconscious and won't know who it is. I'll just say it was me. If she doesn't get pregnant the first time, I'll arrange more times. If that doesn't work, I'll have her gang-raped!"

Scarlett raised her eyes, her gaze fixed on me with interest.

I finally understood. All those suspicious moments in the past—every time I went to the Westerfield Manor to find him, he'd come out of Scarlett's room, saying he was taking care of her for Kevin. And I actually thought he was being responsible!

How ridiculous. What a fool I was!

The bachelorette party before the wedding, tonight's arrangements—all planned by Scarlett. That drink she handed me—I felt dizzy and feverish soon after drinking it.

This was all a trap they'd set!

Just then, the door burst open.

A man stumbled in, breathing heavily and roughly, suppressing something like a wild animal. As he approached, I could feel his burning body temperature, mixed with sweat and an unfamiliar scent.

His hand touched my shoulder—scorching hot, trembling. I wanted to push him away, but I couldn't even move my fingers, only managing a weak moan.

This was the man August had arranged. He wanted this stranger to rape me, to make me pregnant.

On the ceiling screen, the August I loved so deeply was tangled up with Scarlett. And I was being violated by a strange man.

That man was like a crazed beast, pounding into my body again and again. Pain tore through me, humiliation swallowed me whole.

Scarlett's voice came again. "August, you're only 20, I'm 26, six years older than you and married before. Aviah is your age. Are you sure you won't regret choosing me?"

"I'd never regret it, even if I died," August swore. "Even if you were eighty, you'd still be better than Aviah in my heart! In my eyes, she's not even as good as a prostitute."

The pain of heartbreak and the shame of being violated left me unable to breathe. Compared to emotional betrayal, physical humiliation was just a momentary sting.

The man on top of me didn't stop. My consciousness gradually blurred, and before I completely passed out, I vaguely felt a long scar on his chest.

I don't know how much time passed before urgent knocking jolted me from unconsciousness. My head was splitting, my body felt crushed. Last night's memories flashed like fragments—betrayal, blurry figures, rapid breathing, burning touches.

I instinctively looked beside me. The sheets were messy, but empty. The air still held a strange smell, a mixture of alcohol and something oppressive.

It wasn't a dream.

The knocking grew more urgent, as if about to break down the door.

"Darling, are you awake?" August's voice came from outside, sounding concerned. "The wedding's about to start. We need to go."